4 Cops Arrested For Domestic Violence

Police Chief Anthony Campbell took office promising to tackle domestic violence — and now finds himself addressing it among his own ranks.

In the last three months, four of Campbell’s officers have been arrested on charges of domestic violence.

The most visible arrestee was Lt. Rahgue Tennant, who surrendered when a SWAT team came to his East Shore home on Sept. 6, after he allegedly beat and threatened his wife and kept her hostage for a week. (Read about that here.) Tennant remains on paid administrative leave as his case winds its way through the court system; his lawyer said he plans to plead not guilty. Tennant has been stripped of his department weapon (as well as a mini-arsenal he kept at home and allegedly laid out before his wife).

• A second officer, Ryan Walker, was arrested by Trumbull police in June on multiple domestic violence charges including an allegation of strangulation. He, too, has been on administrative duty. He pleaded guilty this week in Bridgeport Superior Court to reduced misdemeanor charges of breach of peace and reckless endangerment, according to court records. His lawyer did not return a phone call requesting comment.

A Trumbull police report released to the Independent Friday states the following: The night before the incident, Walker worked a midnight shift. After getting only two hours of sleep, he and his wife argued about money and his ex, he told a Trumbull cop. She took his keys and his phone, he added. As the argument escalated, Walker held his 1-year-old daughter in his right arm. When his wife grabbed for the baby, Walker strangled her with his left hand, leaving a small red mark on her neck. The wife of two years did not tell police about a history of any other violence.

When a Trumbull sergeant told Walker what his wife said about the attack, he nodded and admitted that he did it. Trumbull police seized four Glocks, and they returned another Glock and a Taser to the New Haven Police Department.

Internal Affairs will now review Walker’s case and guilty plea, then officials will determine whether they believe he should remain an officer, according to Chief Campbell.

• A third officer was arrested by Branford police on July 19 for allegedly violating a protective order by contacting a family member and returning to his family residence. Police said he did not physically harm the daughter, but they still consider the violation a form of domestic violence. He was charged with first-degree criminal trespass and criminal violation of a restraining order. The police report, released to the Independent Friday in response to a Connecticut Freedom of Information Act request, states that family members said that the officer has the only access to a surveillance system at the house and “they believe he is watching them all the time.”

The officer has returned to active duty after his case was nolled by prosecutors. He did not respond to an email requesting comment.

• A fourth officer was arrested in mid-August by Waterbury police, after two prior run-ins with Torrington cops. He allegedly kicked his wife in the chest, “slapped her in the face” with both hands, beat and bruised her, as she begged for him to stop hurting her.

Leading up to the alleged violence, the wife said she’d undergone repeated physical abuse by her husband, according to the arrest warrant application. In recent months, she learned her husband had impregnated another woman. After that child was delivered, the officer allegedly monitored his wife’s phone and caught her expressing a desire to leave him.

The cop was initially arrested by Torrington police on felony counts of risk of injury to a minor and misdemeanor counts of unlawful restraint, assault, and breach of peace. The Torrington officers took his department-issued weapon; that case has been referred to the court’s family relations officer. The next day, Waterbury police arrested him on three misdemeanor counts of assault, disorderly conduct and unlawful restraint for allegedly locking her in an attic for two hours after abusing her. The report did not record the arrested officer’s version of the story; he has not yet entered a plea in the case, according to the state judicial website.

The officer also remains on administrative duty, still without his gun. He’s barred from working overtime while his criminal case proceeds. Attempts to reach him by phone were unsuccessful. The wife, after being urged by her 14-year-old daughter to pack her things, told Waterbury policy last month that she was staying at a friend’s house in Torrington.

Brass Confronts “Spike”

New Haven Chief Campbell said he has seen “spikes” before in officers being arrested for domestic violence arrests, though he doesn’t remember four in such a short time.

“I think it’s really reflective of what people are going through. Financial struggles, which are some of the issues in many of these instances [and] relationships issues,” he said. “A lot of it has to do with the stress of the job. Sometimes you get a group of officers who need some assistance in balancing work life with personal life. That’s why we have EAP [an employee assistance program]. Our department uses EAP and offers EAP more than I think anyone else in the state. But you have to afford yourself the opportunity. You have to take advantage of it. We find that those who do use it really benefit from it.”

Assistant Police Chief Otoniel Reyes, who oversees patrol, has brought up the arrests in addressing shift-change line-ups. He said he has delivered a dual message: Get that help from EAP when you need it. And know that as officers you will be held to higher standards of conduct.

“It’s alarming,” Reyes said of the recent arrests. “We provide comprehensive services to our officers through EAP and our peer support program, and we continually encourage them to take advantage of them. There is a great deal of stigma associated with seeking help, and we’ve taken steps to help change the culture of silence.”

There’s not much generally agreed upon research on how many cops abuse their partners. But people working in the field say that victims of “officer-involved domestic violence” face additional hurdles before leaving their partner, experts said.

“It’s important to recognize that law enforcement is not immune to committing domestic violence against their partners,” Karen Jarmoc, chief executive officer of Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said. “When it comes to being abused by a partner who happens to work in law enforcement, they are often fearful to seek help. They might be concerned about their confidentiality [and] concerned that they might not be treated fairly. [Other cops] might know their partner, and they might be fearful that they will not follow through on the law. On the flip side, if they do call, it could jeopardize their partner’s job.”

New Haven Partway To National Standards

In 2003, years of domestic violence perpetrated by the police chief in Tacoma, Washington, ended in him shooting his wife in a parking lot. Since then, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has pushed police departments to toughen up their response to batterers within their ranks.

Their model policy recommends “zero tolerance” for any cops who attack, rape, restrain, harass or threaten their partners.

“It is imperative to the integrity of the profession of policing and the sense of trust communities have in their local law enforcement agencies that leaders, through the adoption of clear policies, will make a definitive statement that domestic violence will not be tolerated,” the group states.

The IACP recommends that police departments vet all potential hires for abusive tendencies, through psychological screenings and direct contact with intimate partners; enter into cross-jurisdictional agreements to notify other departments of domestic violence arrests or even warning signs; require supervisors to document any problematic behavior; and punish officers cover up for their colleagues by failing to report abuse or attempting to intimidate witnesses.

Whenever there’s an incident of domestic violence by a fellow cop, the IACP recommends prioritizing the 911 calls, notifying the chief and ensuring an officer of a higher rank is on the scene to respond and follow through on the investigation with the standard protocol. Afterward, the IACP says that the chief should ensure that all cops who responded to the call are debriefed, sworn to maintain the victim’s confidentiality and assigned any future work.

Afterward, the IACP says that the department should launch two separate, parallel investigations into criminal charges and administrative discipline. The internal decisions should stand, even if a prosecutor or a jury arrives at a different conclusion on the criminal charges, the group says.

• For instance, New Haven’s policy starts when an incident occurs, while the IACP recommends pre-screening and training before candidates are even hired to share information with officers and their families about domestic violence.

• New Haven’s cops don’t have any responsibility to break the “blue line” by reporting warning signs of domestic violence, while the IACP recommends a chief “take disciplinary action and criminally charge” other officers if the investigation uncovers that they “failed to notify the department or engaged in actions intended to interfere with the investigation.”

• After a call comes in, New Haven’s supervisors don’t need to seize an officer’s service weapons unless there’s actual, attempted or threatened use of force, while the IACP recommends taking the guns “whenever an officer is arrested,” as there’s evidence that the presence of firearms can quintuple the risk of a homicide.

• New Haven’s officers aren’t reminded to keep the victim’s identity confidential, while the IACP stresses that leaks could endanger a victim who has fled into hiding or witnesses who tried to keep the partner safe. Speaking generally, Jarmoc said that, without a clear policy guaranteeing confidentiality, “information might be shared, not just within the department but across departments, that’s not supposed to be shared.”

• And finally, New Haven’s policy doesn’t say what should happen if the chief is suspected of domestic violence, while IACP sets out a clear protocol for notifying the state’s attorney and the mayor.

While Jarmoc wasn’t familiar with the specifics of New Haven’s policies, she said that it’s a positive sign that four officers were arrested on these charges, rather than getting away without enforcement.

“We are not hearing that officers are not being arrested,” she said. “The fact that four officers were arrested on charges of family violence is demonstrative, showing that the departments are taking action, regardless of whether it’s law enforcement or not. It appears that they’re following through.”

Outside of departments, Jarmoc said it’s important for victims of officer-involved domestic violence to know that nearly 400 advocates throughout Connecticut, reachable at hotlines at any time, can confidentially talk through the safety risks.

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Comments

posted by: 06511 on September 14, 2018 1:46pm

As member of the public, you know what I DON’T want to hear from the police spokesperson? “Times are tough, work/life balance is hard, we have this assistance program.”

What I want to hear is that officers with any record of domestic abuse have no place on the police force, period.

posted by: Patricia Kane on September 14, 2018 2:02pm

If the NHPD is serious in its commitment to protecting people from domestic violence, then the entire IACP protocols should be adopted AND mandatory periodic mental health assessments of all staff be established. It is a passive approach to leave treatment in the hands of an individual who is out of control. Waiting for police to seek counseling is not working and will not work. The professionals in policing have already made that determination. It would be nice to see the Board of Police Commissioners advocate for these much needed changes, along with the Mayor.

posted by: 1644 on September 14, 2018 2:23pm

Society needs to condemn a little more and understand a little less. - John Major

Sadly, Campbell seems more focused on protecting his “family” and making excuses for criminal behavior than on protecting the actual families of officers and protecting the public from officers who may be prone to violence. Public safety should be paramount, but our legal system and government places more importance on the employment rights of police officers than they do on the public’s safety. Personally, I don’t care why these folks may have abused their spouses: if there’s probable cause that they are prone to criminal violence, they should be terminated.

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 14, 2018 2:35pm

Whether it is ‘the job’ of the ‘disposition of the officer’, ‘mental health’ is a back burner item at NHPD.

All you macho men with badges that beat and threaten ‘your’ women….. you know who you are….. and I am sure some of your fellow officers know who you are as well….

posted by: elmcitybornandraised on September 14, 2018 3:15pm

@Bill Saunders can you tell me where the city can pull that money from in order to promote better mental health for officers? Great suggestion but the city doesn’t seem to care…...the P.D. doesn’t finance itself last time I checked…..everyone has great suggestions but what money tree are you shaking is always my question…..

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 14, 2018 6:32pm

ECBAD,

The Police Union is going to have to make some concessions for the greater good of their department, and their ultimate credibility in the community at large. Better mental health care—that is a winner!

The bucks start there…...

unfortunately, there are not enough mental health providers and mental health is ‘stigmatized’. This could be great PR for NHPD for being proactive in the face of adversity….but I’m not holding my breathe…..

I also bet that a lot of these cops don’t want shrinks digging around in their head. That’s just not Macho!

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 14, 2018 6:35pm

O6511,

The usual excuse I hear for bad behavior is ‘I know that Officer. He/She must be having a bad day”.

There is the problem in a nutshell—cops cover for cops, even in the midst of glaring misbehaviors….

posted by: WinstonSmith06511 on September 14, 2018 9:06pm

There Bill Saunders goes again. He’s still upset he lost his lawsuit and he passive-aggressively posts on here trash talking. I like how NHI selectively edits/allows/fails to post comments, but his leftist comments always make the board. Fake news

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 14, 2018 10:48pm

Winston Smith,

So, from what I can gather, you are not in favor of routine mental health care exams for our ‘boys and girls in blue’....? That is such a disservice to them, their families, and the community at large.

Nothing Fake about that…

posted by: southwest on September 15, 2018 5:39am

The police commissioners and the department is doing a lousy job hiring and screening officers..Many officers are still hired because of their connections regarding family members were cops and their kids get hired no matter how incompetent they are because it’s all about the last names and political connections. If they are political connect they get less discipline and their supervisors look the other way…Some people are not qualified to be cops because they are given to much power and it goes to their head plus they use it to bully the public and their spouses.. Their are truly some good cops out there who take their jobs seriously but some it’s about a paycheck because they couldn’t get hired any place else…It’s obviously that the dead approved a lot of these officers back ground, being “sarcastic"because of the article regarding they never talked to people regarding officers background..The questions now is how many of theses officers had a violent history but because officers didn’t do thorough background their actions is coming to play out now. NHPD is spiraling out of control because this is how it all starts before something traumatic happens and then everyone pass the buck!!

posted by: elmcitybornandraised on September 15, 2018 7:54am

@Bill Saunders if your suggestion comes from a place of genuine concern for the community and the officers….why insert the line “That’s just not Macho!”....????? Cmon sir….you’re better than that aren’t you? I want my community to be protected by the best possible police officer available….I can only imagine what these officers see that we never hear about or read in the Independent. It’s an impossibility to know….. NO ONE ever wants a “shrink digging” around in their head. That goes for anyone…but in law enforcement in this day and age…when we (yes we the community) ask so much from these men and women….it’s needed more than ever….these incidents spotlight that need.

@WinstonSmith06511 none of my friends seem to care for Bill Saunders opinions but I like to believe there is some good thoughts/suggestions even if the person has a certain view or bias that may not be akin to my own…...lol.

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 15, 2018 5:05pm

ECBAR,

Why bring up being ‘MACHO’? Because we are talking about men who are out of control!

Don’t care if you and your friends don’t like!

posted by: 1644 on September 15, 2018 5:10pm

For those calling for better screening, no screening process is going to be foolproof. More over, many people may have behavioral problems that arise after hiring. If we want police forces in which in which we can have confidence and which we can respect, we need to make it easier, a lot easier, to fire officers of questionable stability, judgment and integrity. The standards not just for initial hiring, but for continued employment need to be higher. We need to be able to cull the force of questionable characters in a process of continual improvement. As it is, cops who commit crimes are permitted to stay, and those whose actions lead to millions in liability for the taxpayers are also retained.

posted by: WinstonSmith06511 on September 15, 2018 9:24pm

@Bill Saunders… you clearly use the word “Macho” with a negative connotation to demean Officers who you call “out of control”. You cast a blanket statement stereotyping every Officer. Proof is in your words “mandatory regular psych exams for all Officers”.

Every profession has bad seeds. We trust people in the food industry to safely handle food, yet there are regularly videos of food poisoning outbreaks and videos of people spitting in food.

There are routinely doctors charged and convicted of malpractice and sexual assault.

There are routinely politicians who rob public coffers for their own benefit.

Yet, you attack all cops. Just because some have issues, doesn’t mean all do. I think your statement speak for itself.

posted by: WinstonSmith06511 on September 15, 2018 9:31pm

@ 1644, higher standards? Probably wanna ask Chiefs Campbell, Cain, and Reyes about “raising” the standards. Under their watch, they tried to subvert and lower the standards. Sgt Abdussabar carried out their wishes. They pushed out qualified background investigators for people with no experience. Then, those people lied as they pursued a FDR pack the court strategy with the dept with unqualified candidates.

You want higher standards, recall the Mayor and have a new Mayor appoint people with integrity. This administration has taken the dept downhill ever since its inception. Proof is in the pudding.

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 16, 2018 1:52am

1644,

You bring another layer to ailments of this broken system. We are all basically saying the same thing. At least the reasoned ‘minds’ are….

Though no prevention is ‘foolproof’ the lack of prevention, knowing the perils of ‘the trade, borders on negligence. The lack of ‘discipline’ of rogue officers is criminal.

I have yet to see any NHPD proxy show up and praise the preventative mental health services available to fellow officers, or any reports on the positive results that mental health care can have.

One would think that the Union Contract would be very concerned with the psychological health of their ‘dues payers’. Obviously not!

Instead, I get to hear lame justifications and personal abuse!

We have a long way to go, folks.

posted by: Howudoin on September 16, 2018 6:07am

So Saunders suggests additional screening but wants Officers to pay for it. Hmmmm. The Union has already made concessions beyond compare to any other city depart and all police departments in this state. I would like to know how many surgeons, pilots, attorneys and any other profession that when there is a “spike” get their names posted for all to see???

posted by: 1644 on September 16, 2018 8:29am

Winston & Bill: M y comments about higher standards were applicable to pretty much all US police forces. New Haven’s issues are not unique. Forces like Madison’s have had their problems, too. I, also, think of the Danbury cop who threatened to beat the illegal immigrant, yet the state arbitrator said he must be retained. (In contrast, the firing bar for teachers seems much lower, and very different from my day. Hit a kid? You’re fired, forever.) In New Haven, it’s pretty clear that the compensation is not competitive. Ideally, we would have a central control to level out compensation between the 150 or so police forces, but we don’t, so New Haven definitely has to raise its compensation. Winston: “mandatory regular psych exams for all Officers” doesn’t disparage all officers, it’s just a tool to proactively find the troubled ones. All military and naval service members need to take physical fitness tests regularly, and repeated failures lead to discharge. Same with medical problems. I don’t know how accurate psych exams are, but the screening should be viewed like prostate exams or mammograms: an uncomfortable waste of time and money for most, but life-saving for many.

posted by: Concord on September 16, 2018 9:47am

Keep lowering the standards for hiring new officers and this is what you get. Lets hope that if these officers are convicted of domestic violence that New Haven does the right thing and fire them!

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 16, 2018 1:20pm

How U doin:

I have never suggested that officers pay for it out of pocket—I think it is something that should be addressed as part of the Union Contract. After all, this is something that potentially affects EVERY officer.

But my guess is NHPD already has some form of ‘mental health coverage’ as part of their benefits package -What’s the deductible and how often are the services used?

Answer those questions, and we get closer to understanding what is really going on here….

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 16, 2018 1:43pm

Here is an interesting article about Police, Mental Health Care, and Treatment Resistance…

posted by: Howudoin on September 16, 2018 3:50pm

Concord I know saying New Haven has “lowered the standards” is the popular thing to say but what do you mean by that? In order to become a certified Police Officer in CT. you have to pass the same standards (POST) as everyone else. In addition, all other towns in the state of CT require a passing grade of 70% in order to graduate from an academy while NEW HAVEN REQUIRES AN 80% PASSING SCORE BECAUSE NEW HAVEN HAS RAISED THE STANDARDS. In addition, when a New Haven Officer graduates from the Academy, his/her Field Training is FAR AND ABOVE ANY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE. A New Haven Officer on the job for one year has seen/heard and done it all. So before you decide to repeat something you heard at least do the homework and make sure it’s factual.

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 16, 2018 4:47pm

How u Doing—you just spelled it out.

According to you, being on the NHPD for one year exposes an officer to EVERYTHING. How a new recruit, or any officer might ‘react’ to those repeated ‘exposures’ is the open question… Nobody really knows those answers except for the officers experiencing the trauma, but sometimes, not even the ‘traumatized’ recognize it in themselves. That is half of the problem right there.

Everybody has different coping mechanisms…. some are healthier than others.

posted by: 1644 on September 16, 2018 7:28pm

Will police officers speak out against this? Or will they close ranks to welcome back “on of their own, a member of their family, a “brother-in-blue” ?

Once again, a police officer’s employment rights are deemed more important than public safety, and a dangerous man is given a badge and a gun.

posted by: Patricia Kane on September 16, 2018 7:30pm

@Bill Saunders:

Instead of the word “stronger”, I’d use “resilient”.

Some people are more resilient than others. It’s a matter of our “wiring” and it’s there from birth.

Either the Protocls and Contract require periodic evaluations (related to behavior, exposure to trauma, etc.) or we leave people on their own in a culture that equates strength with NOT asking for help.

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 16, 2018 8:07pm

How you doin’—I am glad the discussion continued and got here.

posted by: Concord on September 16, 2018 8:15pm

How u Doing

Being a cop for NHPD for 30 years I know they lowered the standards! You are in a dream world if you think different. Sharpen your pencil and know the facts as they are.

Mr Sanders, you are correct in stating, ” Nobody really knows those answers except for the officers experiencing the trauma, but sometimes, not even the ‘traumatized’ recognize it in themselves. That is half of the problem right there.”

Domestic violence can never be tolerated at any level.

posted by: Howudoin on September 17, 2018 11:21am

Concord ThXnks for your service. But you can’t make a blanket statement without factual basis to hold up your comments other that saying you know for sure. I am telling you, that even more so now, to graduate from the NH Police Academy the standard is set higher than anywhere else in the state. And in fact , the curriculum is much more intense as is the physical portion than oh let’s say 30 years ago. That’s a fact. Maybe you don’t like the fact that the city awards points for city residents, and if that’s what you are saying well i think you are correct. But that isn’t lowering standards. Those people aren’t really getting hired. Even after the awarded points. In addition, i will say when you were hired there was NO point system and it was a pass/fail hiring system which meant you, could of scored a 72% and some guy from wherever scored a 97% but because , for example, your father was a cop, you got hired. The nepotism , especially in New Haven was second to none and that is that is actual proof of lowering standards. At least now you know who scored what on the entry level, because it’s posted publicly.

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 17, 2018 1:48pm

Patricia Kane,

Resilient is surely the better word.

And ‘a culture that equates strength with not getting help’—that is surely an aspect of ‘MACHISHMO’.

My two favorite parts of this thread were:

1). When some ‘anonymous’ people were ‘triggered’ by my use of the word MACHO, revealing a little of their own personal truths and vulnerabilities. 2). When Winston Smith called me a Leftist proffering Fake News—Winston Smith is supposed to be worrying about Big Brother, not fronting for him. Get your literary metaphors right, WS—especially if you are going to try and be anonymously ‘clever’ in the future.

posted by: challenge on September 17, 2018 1:57pm

06511 said it all.

posted by: elmcitybornandraised on September 17, 2018 2:48pm

@Bill Saunders I’m trying to figure out how a white man can be more upset about police in this city than myself, a black male living within the city? Do us all a favor and just admit you don’t like law enforcement period….your comments would make more sense that way…...

posted by: elmcitybornandraised on September 17, 2018 3:21pm

@Bill Saunders my favorite part is always your word play on these threads. It’s entertaining to say the least…...

posted by: Jrbobos on September 17, 2018 3:40pm

To all, Yes the standards are very much lowered to get into the academy….once in you are “supposedly” to score higher to remain in and become a cop…but to become a recruit it is a clear 100% fact that yes the standards are not once what they were….

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 17, 2018 3:56pm

ECBAR,

I think I have gone on record before with my ‘attitudes’ toward the police. I am not anti-police. I am against abuse of power.

Believe it or not, I come from a ‘police family’. My grandfather was Chief of Police in Ossining, NY and my grandmother was a Meter Maid. My mom grew up within site of Sing Sing prison and their house may have felt the ‘jolt’ when the Rosenbergs got electrocuted. My mom’s first cousin, who grew up next door, became an Ossining Police officer as well. There were always police around at family functions, and believe me, as the first born grand-child of the Chief of Police, I got treated pretty damn well (made fun of, taught to stick up for myself….. lots of laughter)

My mother’s parents were the kindest, most loving people, and played an important role in my development as a person and my views about what is ‘acceptable’ behavior for the profession.

Also, until recently, my Brother-in-Law was an assistant police chief in charge of Internal Affairs for a ‘smaller town’. Unfortunately, he was let go unexpected in a management ‘purge’—Apparently, he did his job in IA too well in the view of the new ‘Chief’. He quite often sided with the complainant, much to the consternation of his fellow ‘brethren’.

Maybe we can hire him here!!!!

So there is my little story about Bill Saunders and the Police. Probably not what you expected!

As an aside, here is a great way for all of you to judge the current state of ‘Community Policing’ in New Haven.

Whenever you see an Officer walking his/her ‘beat’, say ‘Hello’ to them. It is a practice I make a habit of. Rarely do I get a ‘Hello’ back—just looks of consternation!

Everybody should try it sometime! It’s those little interactions that mean a lot!

posted by: Howudoin on September 17, 2018 4:04pm

Again, to those who do not read and retain what they are reading. TO SIMPLY SAY STANDARDS ARE LOWER DOES NOT MEAN ITS TRUE NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE WRITE IN.SHOW ME HOW, IN OTHER WORDS PROOF OF THESE LOWER STANDARDS. TODAYS HIRING IS WAAAAAAY MORE SCRUTINIZED THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST. IN THE OLD DAYS ALL YOU HAD TO BE WAS IRISH OR ITALIAN AND YOU WERE PLACED ON TOP OF THE “LIST”. NO SCORES, NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHATSOEVER. Bring some facts

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 17, 2018 4:24pm

And thanks for the compliment, ECBAR—a little levity can go a long way!

I cannot take full credit for my ‘wordplay’—it is a ‘symptom’ of my Manic Depression! Sometimes it’s there, sometimes it’s not, and sometimes I don’t even know I’m doing it!

So there is my full disclosure—I am also coming at this from somebody who has been ‘managing’ his own mental illness for over twenty years. I was once one of those guys that ‘didn’t need help’. I am glad I got it!

posted by: Blitheringidiot on September 17, 2018 6:20pm

Tells us there is something rotten in the orchard.

Gotta prune some branches and then plant new trees.

posted by: Bill Saunders on September 18, 2018 12:31am

Blathering Idiot,

It isn’t about the branches. It’s about the roots!

posted by: Josiah Brown on September 18, 2018 6:59am

These are very troubling reports, reflecting the scope of a societal problem. The law enforcement dimension raises particularly serious questions.

Thanks to the reporters for mentioning the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.

For Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, that organization will be holding the annual “Sound of Hope” event on October 3 at the Long Wharf Pier:

posted by: dad101 on September 19, 2018 6:47pm

I must say I am amused at many who claim the standards for law enforcment have been lowered when the reality is that the former standards (you know abck when the HEROS beat people down on the green an around town with billy clubs and nights sticks) was relaly about what ethnicity and RACE you were along side of who you were related too. Psychology test didnt come along until the late 70’s early eighties and we know they were skewed toward white males.As for character do we want to argue the alcholics and domestic wife beaters that permeated law enforcement for centuries. It seems as it was almost a badge of pride to recall how much you drank, how many skulls your cracked andhow you got up to do it all over again. Law enforcement has also been recognized as a GANG across many lines. They were often known for taking bribes,offering protection at a fee and STILL for abusing minorities at an alarmingly high rate in comparriosn to non minorities ..SO before we insinuate that these people are any worse than what has ruled the city for a few hundred years lets remember history has a way of white washing it to be be beautiful to even a blind man..oh yea what about the beat down possies and HBO etc where they so much more qualified? Ask some old time police officers if the predominantly Caucasian force always respected the law and treated them their brother and sister officers lawfully? If the department and the mayor treated them lawfully and equally…NO HUMAN being is perfect they can only strive towards it..THANK you to anyone who is willing to put that uniform on, be condemned by most, abused by many and NEVER be good enough until they are dead and in a history lesson or someones distant memory…